Any studying tips?

Question

I am a freshman in college and I am having a hard time with school and it is showing on my exam grades. I have finals coming up on 5 classes and I don't know how to study that much info in only a weeks time. and if i do well on the finals my grades will be better. any tips?

Answer 1

-Find the smart people who explain things well and study with them.

-Study groups are good if you don't get distracted by socializing.

-If you are pretty good in a subject find a person who is organized and dedicated to studying, but doesn't catch on as fast as you. This will cause you to feel obligated to keep up so that you can help them. Plus the best way to learn something is to explain it to someone else.

-ALLWAYS go to your teachers’ office hours with Questions!!!!!! If they know you they are much likely to be nicer on their grading. An A- is a big difference, point wise, from a B+. Same for if the teacher has a grader!

-Stay way from Video games and TV. If you can, put them away or least unplug them.

-See if any of the people in your class are on an instant messager like AOL, Yahoo or Google. Have a virtual study session.

-See if any free tutoring is offered on campus. My school had free walk in math tutoring in our Math Lab. Very helpful if you are stuck on something.

-Study any tests that you have taken in the class so far.

-If it is not illegal on your campus, see if you can get copies of the teacher’s old finals. Ask upper classmen who have had the teacher before. If you do get old finals, don’t study completed off of them, because the teachers know you have them and will change them. But many times it is helpful to see what types of things the teacher is going to ask.

-Get out of your room to study. If you go to the coffee shop or Library it is easier to not be distracted. When I would study at home, I would all of a sudden want to clean my room and organize my sock drawer…….. So get out!

-Just start! Once you start studying it is easier to keep with it. I found that once I finally made my self start study, I actually enjoyed learning.

-Finals time is not the time to make any big changes, such as breaking up with girl/boy friends or going on diets. Just wait until after finals.

-Good Luck

Answer 2

Attendance comes first. Do not miss classes or days at school unless it is absoutely necessary. There is information given in class that you cannot get later. Keep notes and handouts organized, and in order. When you are given a handout, put the date at the top so it stays in the right order in your binder. If you have to read and make notes on a chapter, do it right away, the same night. Don't let reading assignments pile up; in fact, don't put anything off. If you stay on top of it, you don't have to worry about going under. If you don't understand something or are struggling, get help right away. Don't give up until that teacher has helped you figure it out. The only stupid question is the one that isn't asked. I hate to say it, but teachers are human, and when they grade work their feelings about the student do come into play to a small degree. Do not grub for grades, make a pest of yourself, act up in class or do anything else that will lower your teacher's opinion of you. Review periodically throughout the term - you will be better prepared for exams. Start studying early for exams, and do not study the night before a test or the day of it. If you don't know it by then, you haven't done it right. Don't cram. Study in an area that has everything you need. There is no need to eliminate television, music, etc. unless it interferes with your concentration. Some students study better with a bit of activity around them, others need absolute quiet. Determine what works for you. Time management is critical. Set a time period to do homework and study that is consistent, and do not go beyond it. Say from 7 - 9 p.m. This is after dinner, and allows for you to watch a little tv, read, get ready for bed, and still get to sleep early. It is important to have a set schedule and stick to it, or your studies will run away with you and you'll get burned out. Let things go. If you're hung up on a 13/20, you're not focusing on getting a higher mark on the next thing. Don't belabor your work - if the essay is done, and it looks good, let it go, don't keep picking at it. Perfectionism and obsessiveness will do you in if you're not careful. That's about all I can think of, hope it helps, and have a good year!

Answer 3

when i studied for a test, i would get so stressed that couldn't concentrate, so i would have to write notes on my notes so i could stay focused. I would also read out loud so my mind wouldn't wonder. It really helps when you read out loud though because you're reading and hearing it so it's twice as likely to stick.

Answer 4

Is there a test bank that you can access? Sometimes looking at old exams can help you quiz yourself in preparation.

Answer 5

Repetition. Critical thinking. You just have to understand the central concepts. If you understand the meat then you get the potatoes.

Answer 6

Yeah, turn off the computer.